The Mystic Trials I

Before the second excursion outside the Academy grounds, we were faced with the Mystic Trials, an infamous test of teamwork and ingenuity that had long been a tradition at the Royal Academy. The idea was simple in theory: students would band together in assigned groups to overcome challenges designed to push their limits. The execution, however, was far from straightforward.

The announcement of the groups left me feeling both relieved and apprehensive. My team included Gail, Mary, Prince Valkas, and Kael. A strong group on paper, but one brimming with personalities that clashed like steel on stone.

We stood together at the trial grounds, the sun casting long shadows as Headmaster Medea addressed us with her usual blend of calm authority and veiled amusement.

"In order to make the trial fairer," she began, her violet eyes sweeping across us, "we will be placing restrictions on your summon, Lady Elara."

The words hung in the air like a thundercloud. I blinked, taken aback. "Restrictions?"

"Yes," Medea replied with a faint smile. "It wouldn't be much of a teamwork exercise if your summon simply obliterated every obstacle, would it? And if we adjusted the trial to challenge Aria, the other summons would be completely outclassed. Hence, restrictions."

Her tone was reasonable, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy. Restricting Aria felt like asking the sun to dim its own light.

Kael, ever the practical one, raised an eyebrow. "How exactly do you plan to restrict her?"

Medea tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting into something more clinical. "Aria is far too powerful for forced restrictions to be effective. Instead, we will rely on consensual limitations—binding magic that requires agreement from both the summoner and the summon."

My stomach tightened. "And what happens if I need to remove the restrictions?"

Medea met my gaze, her voice steady. "You can undo them at any time, but doing so will significantly affect your score. Remember, this is as much a test of trust and teamwork as it is of power. The choice, ultimately, is yours."

I nodded reluctantly. "Understood."

"Summon her," Medea instructed.

With a deep breath, I called forth my Diamond grimoire. The book materialized in a shimmer of silver and black, its pages fluttering open as Aria emerged. She stepped forward with her usual air of quiet authority, her black eyes scanning the scene before settling on Medea.

"Extend your hands," Medea said gently.

Aria complied, her movements calm and deliberate, though her gaze flickered to me for reassurance. I nodded, and she held out her hands.

Snap!

Medea placed two cuffs on her wrists. They were ornate but functional, one glowing faintly purple and the other shimmering gold.

"These are the Cuffs of Balance," Medea explained, her tone taking on the instructive cadence of a lecturer. "The purple cuff restricts miasma, and the gold restricts divine energy. They are designed to limit her abilities without harming her."

Aria tilted her head, examining the cuffs with mild curiosity. "Pretty," she murmured, her voice soft but clear.

Medea smiled faintly, as if amused by the observation. "Now, consent to the restrictions."

Aria turned to me, her black eyes unblinking. "Your decision."

Her words sent a pang through me. Trust. That was what this moment was about. Did I trust her to navigate these trials with such limits? Did I trust myself to lead her through them?

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Let's do it."

Aria looked back at Medea and said, "I consent."

The cuffs pulsed once, a ripple of energy surging through the air as the restrictions took hold. Aria flexed her fingers, testing her range of motion. Her aura, still formidable, felt muted—like a blade sheathed in velvet.

Medea stepped back, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "The restrictions are active. Remember, this trial is about more than power. It's about strategy, synergy, and growth."

Gail leaned closer to me, his ever-present smirk firmly in place. "Well, this should be interesting. I've been dying to see how the mighty Elara fares without her overpowered crutch."

I shot him a glare, but Valkas interjected before I could respond. "Gail," he said, his tone sharp but composed, "enough. This isn't a game."

Gail chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Your Highness. I'm just keeping things lively."

As the group fell into an uneasy silence, I glanced at Aria. She met my gaze with her calm, fathomless black eyes, and gave a slight nod.

"Now," Medea said, breaking the silence with her measured tone, "Aria's current level should be comparable to Kael's Royal Dragon with the restrictions in place. This means that even with her, your group will need to rely heavily on strategy and formations to pass the trial. The strength of your summons alone won't suffice."

Her gaze swept over each of us. "And remember, none of you can use Synchronisation yet. Without it, your personal power is negligible compared to the beasts you will face. Caution and cooperation are not optional—they are survival."

We all nodded, the weight of her words settling over us like a heavy cloak.

Synchronisation.

It was the pinnacle ability of the Summoner Trait, allowing summoners to channel fragments of their summons' power into their own bodies—enhancing reflexes, strength, and even sensory perception. But it required a deep bond with one's summon, a level of affinity that none of us had achieved. For me, it felt even further out of reach.

How could I bond with Aria? She was intelligent, communicative, even articulate. Yet, despite her ability to speak, she remained as inscrutable as the heavens.

I felt a small hand slip into mine, soft and deliberate. I looked down to see Aria's tiny fingers wrapping around mine, her expression as serene as ever. It was such a childlike gesture, yet it made my chest tighten with confusion.

Why did she want to hold my hand like this?

Aria wasn't a child, no matter how she looked. She was a Prime Eterna, a being at the pinnacle of existence, a creature that defied all natural laws. She was, in every sense of the phrase, a blue rose—something impossible to understand, let alone possess.

The thought lingered as we marched toward the trial grounds. The Mystic Trials wouldn't take place in a Forbidden Zone like Death Valley, but in a controlled forest beyond the Kingdom of Thane. It was teeming with beasts powerful enough to challenge us, yet far from the apocalyptic danger of Luminara or Eterna beings.

Prince Valkas naturally took the lead, his confident stride and commanding voice placing him firmly in charge. Kael, to my surprise, didn't argue. Instead, he fell into line, his usual assertiveness tempered, perhaps, by the gravity of the trial ahead.

As we walked, I glanced again at Aria. Her hand remained in mine, her grip steady but unyielding. My curiosity finally got the better of me.

"Aria," I asked quietly, "why do you hold my hand?"

She blinked up at me, her expression unreadable, before tilting her head slightly. "I want to be guided," she said simply.

Her words hit me like a pebble dropped into a still pond, sending ripples through my thoughts. Guided? The Prime Eterna, a being so far beyond human comprehension, wanted to be guided?

I looked at her again, searching her face for something—anything—that might give me a clue. But Aria remained as enigmatic as ever, her gaze calm and steady.

"Guided where?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper.

"To you," she replied, her tone soft but unwavering.

For a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us. Her words were simple, but their weight was profound. What did she mean by that? Did she seek direction from me, or was it something more?

Before I could untangle the knot of emotions in my chest, Valkas called out, his voice carrying over the rustling of leaves. "We're almost there. Everyone stay alert."

The moment passed, and I nodded, pulling myself back into the present. But as we continued walking, I couldn't shake the feeling that Aria's words would linger with me far longer than I expected.

And, perhaps, they were meant to.